Superintendent Search

Dear Fridley Public Schools Stakeholders:

The Fridley School District School Board has contracted with School Exec Connect, a superintendent search firm, to assist with the search for a new superintendent. We need your participation in this important process, and want to share information about the steps we will take as we search for a new superintendent. Throughout the process you can always find the latest information at fridleyschools.org/superintendent.

Dr. Kim Hiel’s service to the Fridley Public Schools community as superintendent over the last five years has been exemplary, and her shoes will be difficult to fill. Yet, we are confident that—with the input and assistance of our students, families, staff and surrounding community—we will find a leader with bold vision and a commitment to educational equity. We hope that you will help us to make the best selection possible. On March 28, various focus groups will be held to obtain input from staff, students, parents and community members to obtain input on a new superintendent profile, which will inform our selection process about the qualities the Fridley community is looking for in our next leader. An online survey is also available from March 17 – April 6 so that our entire school community can offer input.

The position will be advertised, and candidates recruited locally and nationally from March 20 – April 28. On May 2, the school board and consultants will meet to review and select candidates to be initially interviewed. The board will interview five or six recommended candidates on May 3 – 4, and will then narrow the field to two or three finalists. The next round of individual interviews will occur May 8, 9, and/or 10. Each candidate will be invited for an all-day interview process including open forums that will be available to staff, students, families and community members, and then a final formal board interview.

The school board will ask staff, students, families and community members to provide input into the selection. You will be able to do this by participating in an open question and answer session with each candidate and filling in a feedback sheet to be shared with the board. We plan to act on the new superintendent’s contract in May.

Please feel free to contact Dave Clough (847-644-5556), Bob Ostlund (612-308-8997) or Lisa Anderson (952-210-9865) if you have any questions regarding this search. We look forward to your assistance in this search process and believe that your input will help us make the best possible choice for your next superintendent.

Sincerely,
Fridley Public Schools School Board